Theosophical Influence in Bahá'í History
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Theosophical History A Quarterly Journal of Research Volume V, No. 4 October 1994 ISSN 0951-497X THEOSOPHICAL HISTORY A Quarterly Journal of Research Founded by Leslie Price, 1985 Volume V, No. 4 October 1994 EDITOR of Emanuel Swedenborg to give but a few examples) that have had an influence James A. Santucci on or displayed an affinity to modern Theosophy. California State University, Fullerton The subscription rate for residents in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada is $14.00 (one year) ot $26.00 (two years). California residents, please add $1.08 (7.75%) sales tax onto the $14 rate or $2.01 onto the $26 rate. For residents outside North ASSOCIATE EDITORS America, the subscription rate is $16.00 (one year) or $30.00 (two years). Air mail Robert Boyd is $24.00 (one year) or $45.00 (two years). Single issues are $4.00. Subscriptions may also be paid in British sterling. All inquiries should be sent to James John Cooper Santucci, Department of Religious Studies, California State University, Fuller- University of Sydney ton, CA 92634-9480 (U.S.A.). Second class postage paid at Fullerton, California 92634. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Theosophical History (c/o James April Hejka-Ekins California State University, Stanislaus Santucci), Department of Religious Studies, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92634-9480 Jerry Hejka-Ekins The Editors assume no responsibility for the views expressed by authors in Nautilus Books Theosophical History. Robert Ellwood * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * University of Southern California GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPTS Joscelyn Godwin 1 The final copy of all manuscripts must be submitted on 8 /2 x 11 inch paper, Colgate University 1 double-spaced, and with margins of aa least 1 /4 inches on all sides. Words and J. 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For books, the publisher’s name and the place and Karen-Claire Voss date of the publication are required; for journal articles, the volume, number, and San Jose State University date must be included, should the information be available. There is no limitation on the length of manuscripts. In general, articles of 30 Theosophical History (ISSN 0951-497X) is published quar- pages or less will be published in full; articles in excess of 30 pages may be terly in January, April, July, and October by James A. Santucci published serially. (Department of Religious Studies, California State University, Brief communications, review articles, and book reviews are welcome. They Fullerton, CA 92634-9480 U.S.A.) The journal consists of eight should be submitted double-spaced. issues per volume: one volume covering a period of two All correspondence, manuscripts, and subscriptions should be sent to: years. The journal’s purpose is to publish contributions Dr. James A. Santucci specifically related to the modern Theosophical Movement, Department of Religious Studies from the time of Madame Helena Blavatsky and others who California State University were responsible in establishing the original Theosophical Fullerton, CA 92634-9480 (U.S.A.) Society (1875), to all groups that derive their teachings— FAX: 714-449-5820 E-Mail: [email protected] directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly—from her TELEPHONE: 714-773-3727 or her immediate followers. In addition, the journal is also Copyright © 1994 by James A. Santucci receptive to related movements (including pre-Blavatskyite Layout and composition by Robert L. Hütwohl, 924 Alto St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 USA, using Adobe type 1 typefaces: ITC Garamond 1, Linotype Univers and Linotext, with an adapted Sanskrit-Tibetan diacritical Theosophy, Spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, and the philosophy Garamond typeface designed by Mr. Hütwohl. THEOSOPHICAL HISTORY Contents October 1994 Volume V, Number 4 Editor’s Comments James Santucci ........................................................................................................ 115 Book Notes The Buddhist and the Theosophical Movements: 1873–1992 and Buddhist Themes in Modern Indian Literature James Santucci ........................................................................................................ 118 Yesterday’s Children Jean Overton Fuller ................................................................................................ 121 Communications Michael Gomes ....................................................................................................... 123 Doss McDavid......................................................................................................... 123 W. Dallas TenBroeck ............................................................................................. 124 From the Archives The Letters of H.P. Blavatsky to W.Q. Judge: Part III: Letter Dated 19 March 1887 With Notes by Michael Gomes .............................................................................. 125 Articles Background and History of the Theosophical Society in Bohemia I. M. Kozlovsky ....................................................................................................... 128 Paul Johnson’s “Theosophical Influence in Bahá’í History: Some Comments” Robert H. Stockman ............................................................................................... 137 On the cover: Gustav Meyrink. Reprinted by permission from I. M. Kozlovsky. Theosophical History 3 Editor’s Comments In this Issue Over the last two years, a series of articles have through the efforts of writers such as Drs. Bezdek, appeared in Theosophical History that have Samalík, and Mrs. Moudrá. Judging from studies turned the spotlight on Eastern Europe: D. Spivak’s that have recently appeared in this journal as well “Russian Ways to Theosophy” (IV/1), A.V. as such important books as Maria Carlson’s No Gnezdilov’s “The Destiny of Russian Theoso- Religion Higher Than Truth, not to mention the phists in the Beginning of the Twentieth Century” material published in South Asian languages, (IV/2), and K. Tokarski’s “Wanda Dynowska- Theosophical literature boasts, despite the rela- Umadevi: A Biographical Essay” (V/3). In the tively small membership of the various Theo- present issue appears still another contribution sophical societies, a disproportionately large num- that highlights this region, “Background and His- ber of books, journals, and other written material. tory of the Theosophical Society in Bohemia” by Michael Gomes’ Theosophy in the Nineteenth Mr. Ivan M. Kozlovsky.1 Information about this Century gives us a titillating glimpse into this region of Europe is sparse; indeed, perhaps the literature. There can be no doubt that further most accessible information about the T.S. in the global cataloguing of Theosophical publications former Czechoslovakia comes from The Theo- will assuredly contribute to a greater understand- sophical Year Book, 1937 (73) and The T.Y.B., ing of the Theosophical Movement. 1938 (81), both giving only perfunctory informa- Over two years ago, Paul Johnson contributed tion for those years. To paraphrase their contents, an article in TH IV/1 entitled “Theosophical as of 1936, General Secretaries included Jan Influence in Bahá’í History.” As Robert Stockman Bedrnicek-Chlumsky (1909–1925), Oscar Beer observes in his “Bahá’í Faith and Theosophy: A (1925–27), Josef Parchansky (1929–31), and Vaclav Response,” it “represents a valuable initiation of Cimr (1927–29, 1931-date of publication of The research on the relationship between the two T.Y.B.). At the time of the Section charter of 7 traditions” despite some caveats that question February 1909, seven Lodges existed, each con- some of Mr. Johnson’s conclusions. One of Dr. centrating on a distinctive type of Theosophical Stockman’s observations is especially important study and activity as the names suggest: Lodges when treating historical influences on an indi- Occultism, Mysticism, Philosophy and Science, vidual or a movement, and it strikes at the heart Religion, Ethics, Esthetics, Psychic Studies. As Mr. of historical methodology: Kozlovsky notes, Theosophical works in Czech— both original and in translation—exist mainly Proving the existence of influence of one person or movement on another is a compli- 1 Mr. Kozlovsky is a coordinator in a psychiatric clinic. He was born in 1945 in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia. Theosophical History 115 cated scholarly task unless the influenced part pm to 8:00 pm, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on November acknowledges it. It is not adequate simply to 19–21, and from 8:00 to 10:00 am on November show that one person met someone else or 22. It is recommended that participants preregis- encountered another movement to prove an ter, the address being AAR/SBR Annual